Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-05-19

king kraai presented q very different ap-
pearance from what it had done on the pre-
vlous evening. In the place of the grim
ranks OF the serried warriors were company
after company of Kukuana girls. not over
dressed, so far as clothing went, but each
crowned with wreath of flowers, and hold
ing palm-leaf in one hand aud tall white
lily (the dTunl) in the other. In the center
of the open space sat Twala, the king, with
Gagool at his feet, attended by Infadoos, the
boy Scragga, and about a dozen guards.
There were also present about score of
chiefs, amongst whom / recognized most of
our friends of the night before.
Twala greeted us with much apparent cor
diality, though | saw him fix his one eye
Viciously on Umbopa.
Welcome, white men from the stars, "he
said; this is a different sight from what
your eyes gazed on by the light of last
nights moon, but it is not so good a sight.
Girls are pleasant, and We're it not for such
as these" (and he pointed round him) 1--WE
should none of US be here to-day; but men
are better. Kisses and tender words of wo-
men are sweet, but the sound Of the clash
ing of mems spears, and the smell of mems
blood, are sweeter far! Would We have
wives from among our people, white men?
If so, choose the faireSt here, and We shall
have them, as many as ye WILL" and he
paused for an answer.
AS the prospect did not seem to be with
out attractions 10 Good, who was, like most
sailors. of susceptible nature. l being ell
derby and wise, and foreSeeing the endless
complications that anything of the sort
would involve fOr women bring trouble as
surely as the night follows the day. put in
haSty answer:
Thanks, 0 king! but we white men wed
only with white women like ourselves.
Your maidens are fair, but they are not for
u.s."
The king laughed.
'sIt is well. In our land there is pro-
verb which says, 'Womans eyes are always
bright, whatever the color and another
which says, Love her who is present, for be
sure she who is absent is false to thee; but
perhaps these things are not so in the stars.
In a land where men are white all things are
possible. So be it. white men; the girls will
not go beggingI Welcome again; and well
come, too, thou black one; if Gagool here
had had her way, thou wouldst have been
stiff and cold now. 1t is lucky that thou,
too earnest from the stars; ha! hap
81 can kill thee before thou ki.Iest NE, O
kingP' was IgnoSi's calm answer 'and
thou shalt be stiff before my limbs cease to
bend"
Twala started. Thou speakest boldly,
boy" he replied, angrily; presume not too
far
HE may well be bold in whose lips are
truth. The truth is a sharp spear which flies
home and fails not. It is a message from
the stars 0 kingT'
Twala scowled, and his one eye cleaned
fercely, but he said nothing more. Let the
dance Begin" he cried, and the next second
the fiower-crOWned girls sprung forward in
companies, singing a sweet song and waving
the delicate palms and white flowers. On
they danced, now Whirling round and round
now meeting in a mimic warfare swaying.
eddying here and there, coming forward,
falling back in an ordered confusion delight
full to witness At last they paused, and
beautiful young woman sprung out of the
ranks and began to pirOuette in front Of us
with grace and vigor which would have
put most ballet-girls to shame. At length
she fell back exhausted, and another took
her place, then another and another but
none of them, either in grace, skill, or per
SOnal attractions came up to the first.
At length the king lifted his hand.
(which think We the farest, white men?:
he asked.
''The first" said |, unthmkiazIy Mex
second regretted it, for remembered that
lnfadoos had said that the fairest woman
was offered as sacrifice.
Then is my mind as your minds and my
eyes as your eyes. She is the fairest; and a |
sorry thing it is for her, for she must die!'
"Ay, must die!' piped out GagoOl, casting |
a glance from her quick eyes IN the direc- |
ton OF the poor girl, who, as yes ignorant of |
the awful fate in store for her, was standing |
some twenty yards Off in front of a company |
OF girls, engaged in neryouSly picking a |
flower from her wreath to pieces, petal by |
petal.
''Why, q king%' said |, restraining my in
dignation with difficulty: ''tha girl has
danced well and pleased us; she is fair, too;
it would be hard to reward her with death.
Twala laughed as he answered.
cit is our custom, and the figures who sit
in stone yonder' (and he pointed toward the
three distant peaks ''must have their dae.
Did / fail to put the fairest girl to death to-
day misfortune would fall upon me and nay
house. Thus runs the prophecy of my peo-
pie: If the king offer not a sacrifice of fair |
girl on the day of the dance Of madens to |
the old ones who sit and watch on the noun /
talnS, then shall he fall and his house, |
Look We, white men, my brother who /
reigned before me offered not the sacrifice,
because of the tears of the home, and he fell /
and his house, and l reigR in his stead. 1t !
is finished; she. must die" Then turning to /
the guards-'tBring her hIther; Scragga, !
make sharp thy spear"
Two Of the men stepped forward, and as
they did So the girl, for the first time reali-
zing her impending fate, screamed aloud
and turned to fly. But the strong hands |
caught her fast, and brought her, struggling
and weeping, up before rs.
''What Is thy name, grip piped Gagool. /
What! wilt thou not answer; shall the
kings sen do his work as ence"
At this hint Scragga, looking more evil
than ever, advanced step and lifted his
great spear, and as he did so saw Sir Hen
rvs hand creep to his revolver. The poor
girl caught the CLINT Of the cold steel
through her tears. and it so5ered her an
guish. She ceased Struggling, but merely
clasped her hands e0nvulsively, and stood
Shuddering from head to foot.
''See." cried Scragga in high glee, ''she